title: Complete normalization of severe brain 18F-FDG hypometabolism following electroconvulsive therapy in a major depressive episode.
abstract: We describe a patient with a complex neuropsychiatric disorder who presented a severe and diffuse cerebral glucose hypometabolism on (18)F-FDG PET initially which, in the clinical setting, was suspicious of an advanced neurodegenerative disease. Further evaluation suggested a major depressive episode with agitation and poor response to medication. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) brought excellent results. A follow-up cerebral (18)F-FDG PET was completely normal, thus illustrating the potential for complete recovery and normalization of brain metabolism in major depressive episode following ECT. It also shows the risk of false interpretation of brain PET in patients with depression.
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine and Radiobiology Department, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Canada.
authors.forename: Cédrik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lajoie
authors.forename: Marc-André
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paquet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18